Operating System

Remotely Power On Your Windows 8 Computer: How to Enable and Use Wake on LAN (WoL)

Wake-on-LAN (WoL) is a network standard that allows you to turn on a computer remotely, regardless of whether the computer is in hibernation, sleep, or even completely turned off.

It is called a magic packet, and it is done from a computer that has the client version of WoL.

It also doesn’t matter what computer operating system it boots to eventually (Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, etc.).

The Wake-on-LAN feature can be used to turn on the computer remotely, on any computer that receives the magic packet. Only for this, the computer BIOS must support Wake-on-LAN. Therefore, not every computer is automatically able to use Wake-on-LAN.

The Wake-on-LAN feature may also be seen by other names, but they all mean the same thing, such as:

RemoteWake-up, Power by LAN, WakeUpOn LAN, Resume by LAN, etc.

Also,this feature has changed a little over time, and today it allows users to turn on their computer through the Wi-Fi network.

In this case, the user uses WMM packages named Wireless Multimedia Extensions to send messages.

In this article, we want to explain how to enable and use Wake on LAN (WoL) on Windows 8.

How to Enable Wake on LAN (WoL) on Windows 8

Enabling Wake-on-LAN to turn on the computer remotely is done in two steps, both of which are described in the following section.

The first step of setting up is to make Wake-on-LAN settings on the motherboard, which must be done through BIOS before the operating system boots, and then you must enter the operating system and make some little changes.

The first step must be done in the BIOS for each computer. But the second step, which is done after setting the BIOS, should be done with different changes depending on your operating system in Windows, Mac, or Linux.

Step 1 – Setting up the BIOS to turn on the computer remotely

The first thing you need to do to enable WoL is to set the computer’s motherboard BIOS correctly so that the software can handle wake-up requests.

Note that the location of these settings will be different for products from additional manufacturers, so the BIOS setting on your system may differ from what is described here.

If these instructions do not help you, you should find your BIOS manufacturer’s website and search there for a user guide on how to enter the BIOS and find the WoL feature.

1. Enter the BIOS environment before booting the operating system.

2. Look for the Power settings section of your system motherboard: such as Power Management.

This section may be under the Advanced section.

Other manufacturers may call it Resume On LAN, such as Mac. Most BIOS screens have a Help section that explains how to set the part we’ve selected.

3. When you find the WoL setting, you can press Enter to change it immediately, or it might bring up a small menu that lets you turn it on or off or enable and disable it.

4. Then save the changes and exit the BIOS.

Step 2 – Setting up the operating system to turn on the computer remotely

In the Windows operating system, you must set the Wake-on-LAN feature through the Device Manager console.

1. To do this, open the Device Manager console.

2. In the Device Manager console, find and open the Network adapters section.

3. By double-clicking the Network adapters option or selecting the small + button next to it, select this section to open it.

4. Double-click on your active network card that you use to connect to the Internet, or right-click and select Properties.

5. In the window that opens, select the Advanced tab.

6. Under Property, click on Wake in Magic Pack.

7. By selecting this option in the right part, select the Enable value for it.

8. Then open the Power Management tab.

Depending on the version of Windows or the network card, the name of this option may be Power.

9. Make sure this the two options be active, Allow this device to wake the computer and Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer.

These settings may be in a single section called Wake on Magic Packet instead of in a single section called Wake-on-LAN.

Note: If you don’t see these options or they are disabled, try updating your network adapter driver. But remember that your network card may not support WoL. It is usually not possible to use this feature for wireless network cards.

10. Tap OK to save changes and exit the window. You can also close Device Manager.

Note: Wake-on-LAN does not work on some PCs in Windows 8 that use FastStartup mode. If this is the case for you, you should disable Fast Startup.

How to use the Wake-on-LAN feature in Windows 8

Now that the computer is fully prepared to use Wake-on-LAN, you need a program that can send magic packet requests to turn on the system.

TeamViewer is one of the free remote access tools that supports Wake-on-LAN.

Since TeamViewer is specifically designed for remote access, its WoL functionality is helpful when you want to turn on your computer from another location.

Another good tool for using the Wake-on-LAN feature is Depicts, which works from multiple locations.

You can also use the WoL feature through the browser without having to download anything.

Some other free apps for using Wake-on-LAN include Wake On LAN for Android and RemoteBoot WOL for iOS.

WakeOnLan is another free WoL tool for macOS, and Windows users can also choose Wake On Lan Magic Packets or WakeMeOnLan.

When using any of these tools, you must enter four bits of information:

1. MAC Address: Enter the MAC address of the router’s network card to listen for the Wake-On-LAN packet.

2. IP Address or Domain Name: Enter your router’s Internet IP address or a DDNS address such as .ddns.com.

3. Subnet Mask: You must also enter the Subnet Mask of the network for the computers behind the router.

4. Port Number: Enter the UDP port number that you forwarded on the modem for broadcast.

After that, the tool can send “magic packets” with the correct information and if you configured everything correctly, your computer will turn on.

Last Words

In this article, we explained how you can use the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature in your Windows 8. By doing the above steps completed, you can activate the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature in your Windows 8.

Have you used this method to activate and use the Wake on LAN (WoL)  feature in Windows 8?

What other methods do you know to activate and use the Wake on LAN (WoL) feature in Windows 8?

Share your thoughts and experiences with us.

Sarah Kmz

Sara is a talented author and technology enthusiast with a passion for writing about Windows tips and tricks. She was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and has always had a love for all things related to technology. After completing her degree in Computer Science at the University of Washington, Sara began working as a software developer. She quickly discovered that she had a talent for writing and decided to combine her two passions by starting a blog about Windows tips and tricks. Sara's blog quickly gained popularity and she became known for her clear and concise writing style, as well as her ability to explain complex technical concepts in a way that was easy for anyone to understand. Her blog has become a go-to resource for Windows users looking to optimize their experience and make the most out of their technology. In addition to her work on her blog, Sara is also a prolific writer of technical articles for a number of different publications. Her writing has been featured in numerous technology blogs and websites, and she is widely respected in the industry for her expertise in the field. When she's not writing or working on her blog, Sara enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She is also an avid traveler and is always looking for new places to explore and new experiences to have. Overall, Sara is a talented writer and technology expert who is dedicated to sharing her knowledge with others. Her passion for both technology and writing has made her a respected figure in the industry, and she continues to inspire and educate others through her work on her blog and beyond.

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